I was cleaning my gun after a range session and I noticed it looks like my rear sight is skewed to the left. I've had the gun for about a month, I bought it new and I don't *think* it came this way but to be honest, I'm not sure. I haven't been too accurate with the gun, but that's primarily operator error. I've never dropped the gun, and its only been transported in the original S&W blue case.

I've attached the pictures below, is this how its supposed to look?

If its out of whack, would I be able to fix it myself, or should I go to a gunsmith. If I need to go to a gunsmith, how much is this probably going to run me? Is possible for this to happen with normal use?

That's not straight. Simple to drift back in place, just loosen up the allen screw, get you a nice soft punch (brass or delrin, hell, hard wood will work) and just make sure the slide is secured and give it a few good taps to get it back in the center. Just eyeball it unless you are particular, then bust out the calipers. They're fairly easy to move, not too tight, the allen screw holds it in place. Give it a shot!

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That's not straight. Simple to drift back in place, just loosen up the allen screw, get you a nice soft punch (brass or delrin, hell, hard wood will work) and just make sure the slide is secured and give it a few good taps to get it back in the center. Just eyeball it unless you are particular, then bust out the calipers. They're fairly easy to move, not too tight, the allen screw holds it in place. Give it a shot!

Shooting low can be recoil anticipation. Shooting to the left can be caused by your rear sight being misaligned.

If you have a bore sight, you can insert it into the bore, aim at a wall about 10' away and quickly check your left/right alignment. If it's off, you'll notice the laser dot will be off to the left. Correct it by moving the rear sight to the right until the laser dot lines up with the sights.

I'm shooting low to the left, I assumed it was just my jerking my shot. What is the striker block cover?

You didn't say how tight a group you are able to hold, but I'd suspect it is trigger control also.

Strike Block Cover - The hole you see in the slide, peeking out from under the right side of your rear sight, contains the Striker Block, the Striker Block Spring and the Striker Block cover. It is a thin metal disc that slides over the hole in the slide after after the Striker Block and it's spring are inserted. It rides between the spring and the bottom of the rear sight body

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You didn't say how tight a group you are able to hold, but I'd suspect it is trigger control also.

Strike Block Cover - The hole you see in the slide, peeking out from under the right side of your rear sight, contains the Striker Block, the Striker Block Spring and the Striker Block cover. It is a thin metal disc that slides over the hole in the slide after after the Striker Block and it's spring are inserted. It rides between the spring and the bottom of the rear sight body

My groupings are relatively tight (for me at least), 3-4". Sometimes on a good mag I shoot them 1-2", its just consistently low and to the left.

My groupings are relatively tight (for me at least), 3-4". Sometimes on a good mag I shoot them 1-2", its just consistently low and to the left.

Shooting low left is probably a trigger control issue, but with the sight like that it's impossible to say. 3" - 4" at what distance?

timmyb is exactly right: Loosen the screw and use a punch to move it over. You don't need a vise. It would help but it's not required.

Put the slide on a towel, folded over, so it's nested slightly. Brace it with the hand that is holding the punch, then give the punch a gentle rap with the hammer. I have a hammer and punches will show you what to do if you're local. Where in Costa Mesa are you? (approx cross streets - PM me)

I just did this with a sight install on my pistols after they were affixed with thread locker.

I ended up taking it in to Bolsa Gunsmithing in Westminster. They accepted it as a warranty repair (authorized factory repair gunsmith for S&W) and will sight it in as well. I get it back sometime next week!